France and Tunisia to Cooperate on Stopping Jihadists Fighting in Iraq and Syria

Tunisia's Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa gives French President Francois Hollande a copy of the new Tunisian constitution at the Elysee Palace in Paris.(Reuters)

France and Tunisia are to increase cooperation on preventing their citizens from joining up with jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, the French interior minister has confirmed.

Bernard Cazeneuve, on a 24-hour visit to the North African country, announced the new measures aimed at plugging the flow of potential jihadists to Middle East groups such as the Islamic State [IS] and the Nusra Front.

The new measures will strengthen border controls in both countries and increase cooperation between police and intelligence services in Tunis and Paris. Cazeneuve added that the fight against cybercrime and illegal immigration were discussed.